System and method for rate-based packet transmission over a network

Abstract

An appliance for controlling data transmission is described. The appliance includes a packet engine configured to acquire data regarding a flow of first data packets over a link and to determine transport communication protocol (TCP) characteristics for the flow. The appliance also includes a data transmission controller configured to receive second data packets, determine a rate of transmission based on the TCP characteristics, and determine, based on one or more criteria, whether to use a rate-based data transmission control to control a transmission of the second data packets. The data transmission controller is also configured to, responsive to determining that a rate-based data transmission control is to be used to control a transmission of the second data packets, cause the packet engine to transmit the second data packets in groups, wherein transmission times of each group of second data packets are determined based on the rate of transmission.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 (a) identifying, by a device, one or more characteristics of one or more first flows of data packets, wherein the device is configured to switch between a plurality of transmission controls comprising at least a rate-based data transmission control and a congestion window-based data transmission control; 
 (b) receiving, by the device, one or more second flows of data packets; 
 (c) selecting, by the device, between a transmission control of the plurality of transmission controls for controlling transmission of packets of the one or more second flows of data packets based at least on the one or more characteristics of the one or more first flows of data packets; and 
 (d) transmitting, by the device, one or more packets of the one or more second flows of data packets using the selected transmission control. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) further comprises identifying the one or more characteristics comprising one of a round trip, a queue delay or a congestion window size. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) further comprises identifying the one or more characteristics comprising one or more sizes of data packets. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to switch between the plurality of transmission controls on a per flow basis. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) further comprises switching from the rate-based data transmission control to the congestion window-based data transmission control. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) further comprises switching from the congestion window-based data transmission control to the rate-based data transmission control. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) further comprises selecting the rate-based data transmission control of the plurality of transmission controls. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) further comprises selecting the congestion window-based data transmission control of the plurality of transmission controls. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) further comprises selecting the transmission control based at least on a rate of transmission of one or more packets of the first flow of packets. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (d) further comprises transmitting data packets of the one or more second flows of data packets in groups, in which each group has a determined transmission time. 
     
     
       11. A system comprising:
 a device comprising one or more processors, coupled to memory, wherein the device is configured to switch between a plurality of transmission controls comprising at least a rate-based data transmission control and a congestion window-based data transmission control, 
 and wherein the device is configured to: 
 identify one or more characteristics of one or more first flows of data packets, the device is configured to switch between a plurality of transmission controls comprising at least a rate-based data transmission control and a congestion window-based data transmission control; 
 receive one or more second flows of data packets; 
 select between a transmission control of the plurality of transmission controls for controlling transmission of packets of the one or more second flows of data packets based at least on the one or more characteristics of the one or more first flows of data packets and 
 transmit one or more packets of the one or more second flows of data packets using the selected transmission control. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprises one of a round trip, a queue delay or a congestion window size. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more characteristics comprising one or more sizes of data packets. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to switch between the plurality of transmission controls on a per flow basis. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to switch from the rate-based data transmission control to the congestion window-based data transmission control. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to switch from the congestion window-based data transmission control to the rate-based data transmission control. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to select the rate-based data transmission control of the plurality of transmission controls. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to select the congestion window-based data transmission control of the plurality of transmission controls. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to select the transmission control based at least on a rate of transmission of one or more packets of the first flow of packets. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the device is further configured to transmit data packets of the one or more second flows of data packets in groups, in which each group has a determined transmission time.